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Correct size and placement of WW2 decals?

15K views 10 replies 2 participants last post by  Beastmaster 
#1 ·
Hi guys,
I don't have a willys, but I'd like to add some correct decals to my yj I'm picking up later this week.

I've seen some photos of ww2 jeeps with flags in the right hand side of the window. (see pic) Were these standard or just personal? If standard, what was the correct size?

Also, is there a list of sizes and placements of other things like the "USA" that is on the hood, the star on the rear, etc?

Thanks!


 
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#3 · (Edited)
Sorry, I missed this post.

This is a hobby of mine and I've found there are allot of variables. Some of it is preference as to the time period you want your Jeep to show. If you are trying to go for 100% accurate you can follow the guidelines or if you find a look you want, that's okay too.

This is most likely more info than you wanted but its good trivia fodder.




Stars:
  • Prior to the war they were just the plain star and that was how they were delivered from the factory during the war.
  • Because of the lend-lease deal where were giving lots of military equipment to our allies (and some fell into enemy hands), the US wanted to make a different star on our vehicles to tell them apart.
  • When we entered the war it was decided to put a circle around the star and they were named "invasion stars". The circle was intended to be solid around the star but most of the time it was just sprayed on out in the field and the stencil gaps were left.
  • There was 1 large star (20”) on the hood that by regulations was just forward of the windshield (rather than in the middle of the hood) and straddled the gap in the hood. This way, when the windshield was folded down, you could still see the star.
  • There were 6” stars on the sides aft of the rear wheel wells and 1 smaller star in the middle of the front bumper. The front bumper star does not have the circle around it.
  • After the war, they went back to the plain star.
Hood and bumper numbers:
  • When the vehicles were delivered from the factory, the hood numbers were dark blue and there were no bumper numbers.
  • The hood numbers were painted white in the field and the regs allow for the USA to either be in front of the numbers or on top depending on the space available.
  • Prior to, and early on in the war, the hood numbers were preceded by a “W-“ to indicate it belonged to the war department.
  • If the vehicle had been modified for radio use, the hood numbers had a “-S” to indicate the vehicle electrical system had been “suppressed” so as to not interfere with the radio.
  • The bumper numbers indicate the unit the vehicle was assigned to and there are several variations.
Flag on the windshield:
  • This was actually a D-day thing. A card was place in the lower left side of the driver’s windshield. On one side there was a flag (48 star of course) and on the side facing the driver, there was “fording” instructions to explain what needed to be done going ashore and to cross rivers.
Here is a good referance document on the subject: US_Vehicle_Markings.pdf

All that being said, I set up my 2007 JKU with early war markings just for the heck of it, and with my 1943 Willys, I did them up as if it were on D-day. Both Jeeps have bumper numbers for the 7th Troop Carrier Squadron. They flew C-46s and C-47s during the war.


You can get more information in the links for my Jeeps in my sig line.



 
#4 ·
Sorry, I missed this post.

This is a hobby of mine and I've found there are allot of variables. Some of it is preference as to the time period you want your Jeep to show. If you are trying to go for 100% accurate you can follow the guidelines or if you find a look you want, that's okay too.

This is most likely more info than you wanted but its good trivia fodder.




Stars:
  • Prior to the war they were just the plain star and that was how they were delivered from the factory during the war.
  • Because of the lend-lease deal where were giving lots of military equipment to our allies (and some fell into enemy hands), the US wanted to make a different star on our vehicles to tell them apart.
  • When we entered the war it was decided to put a circle around the star and they were named "invasion stars". The circle was intended to be solid around the star but most of the time it was just sprayed on out in the field and the stencil gaps were left.
  • There was 1 large star (20”) on the hood that by regulations was just forward of the windshield (rather than in the middle of the hood) and straddled the gap in the hood. This way, when the windshield was folded down, you could still see the star.
  • There were 6” stars on the sides aft of the rear wheel wells and 1 smaller star in the middle of the front bumper. The front bumper star does not have the circle around it.
  • After the war, they went back to the plain star.
Hood and bumper numbers:
  • When the vehicles were delivered from the factory, the hood numbers were dark blue and there were no bumper numbers.
  • The hood numbers were painted white in the field and the regs allow for the USA to either be in front of the numbers or on top depending on the space available.
  • Prior to, and early on in the war, the hood numbers were preceded by a “W-“ to indicate it belonged to the war department.
  • If the vehicle had been modified for radio use, the hood numbers had a “-S” to indicate the vehicle electrical system had been “suppressed” so as to not interfere with the radio.
  • The bumper numbers indicate the unit the vehicle was assigned to and there are several variations.
Flag on the windshield:
  • This was actually a D-day thing. A card was place in the lower left side of the driver’s windshield. On one side there was a flag (48 star of course) and on the side facing the driver, there was “fording” instructions to explain what needed to be done going ashore and to cross rivers.
Here is a good referance document on the subject: US_Vehicle_Markings.pdf

All that being said, I set up my 2007 JKU with early war markings just for the heck of it, and with my 1943 Willys, I did them up as if it were on D-day. Both Jeeps have bumper numbers for the 7th Troop Carrier Squadron. They flew C-46s and C-47s during the war.


You can get more information in the links for my Jeeps in my sig line.

Perfect! Thank you so much.
For the flag decals, was there a standard size or just "a flag". I like the placement and size of the one in the photo I posted.

Thanks again!
 
#5 · (Edited)
The flag was actually an odd size. My guess is that they took an 8-1/2" x 10" card and had the flag printed twice on it to be able to cut it in half for 2 vehicles. The 48 star flag I have is a sticker so there's no fording instructions on the back, it's something like 8-1/2" x 5" in size. I can't remember where I bought it so when I get home from work today, I'll try to look it up and post the info.
 
#7 ·
Good news and bad news:
  • Good News: Okay, I remembered where I got the flag, it was the same place as the stars and numbers: 48 STAR FLAG and it runs $5.00
  • Bad news: It is stuck from the outside. Not a problem on my Willys because the wipers are at the top of the windshield but I can see the problem with the wrangler.
As another option, there is a place that makes lots of military stickers called Military Graphics. Their stuff is more expensive but made of vinyl so it should hold up better.
 
#8 ·
There is actually someone on ebay who sells custom 48 star vinyl stickers in any size. I might just get a smaller one and stick it on the outside on the outer edge away from the wipers. I wanted to be historically correct, but it seems like the flags weren't 100% nailed down with a specification anyway.

Thanks so much for all the info! Very helpful.
 
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